Injury, unintentional or intentional, is the largest single cause of mortality in children and young people. Although the subject has been neglected in the past, governments, professionals and public health agencies around the world now recognise the huge toll of avoidable suffering and expenditure that injuries cause. Moreover, such injuries are strongly socially patterned, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged individuals, families and communities, and thereby contributing to health inequalities. The result is that injury prevention is rising up the public health policy agenda. Injuries are not random events. They are predictable and avoidable, perhaps to a greater extent than most other causes of mortality and morbidity in the early stages of human life. Over the past few decades, a formidable amount of research evidence has accumulated that is available to guide practitioners and policy makers. Although more research is always required, the full implementation of the existing body of evidence could reduce the incidence and impact of injuries substantially. David H.
Stone presents an introductory text for graduate and undergraduate students that summarises the key principles of child injury prevention and discusses how these may be translated most effectively into practice. It will also inform professionals and policy makers working in injury prevention. His perspective is a public health one, the writing style informal and jargon-light, yet authoritative.